Should Realtrack consider a Class 153?

[E100]

5 hours ago, adb968008 said:

I’m not sure its either of those.

 

153 has oodles of liveries, but the A/s has tended to focus on models where modellers would buy several in bulk and i’m not sure a 153 is that. A 155 would only add a couple more liveries. Revolution has the 175 and 180 already.

 

My left field guess would be Oxford Rail, Dapol or maybe EFE.

 

As much as an improved 153 is needed, i’m not sure ive enough enthusiasm in me to replace all my Hornby 153’s for a bunch of c£160 new 153’s… I could be persuaded on the 155’s though, but only a couple.

 

 

Oxford is to all intents and purposes now Hornby.

 

Dapol is a good shout with the n gauge version, as is EFE with the KMRC connection being one of their stomping grounds.

[wombatofludham]

13 hours ago, adb968008 said:

My left field guess would be Oxford Rail, Dapol or maybe EFE.

 

As much as an improved 153 is needed, i’m not sure ive enough enthusiasm in me to replace all my Hornby 153’s for a bunch of c£160 new 153’s… I could be persuaded on the 155’s though, but only a couple.

 

I suspect Oxford are out given they are controlled by Hornby but I must admit I had forgotten Dapol have a Scud in N, and EFE do seem to be pulling surprises out of their closet. I wonder if Kernow were thinking of their own 153/155 given their association with Cornwall.

I would replace my Reggie Rail 153 but like you could find space for a 155 as well.

[TomScrut]

22 hours ago, adb968008 said:

I could be persuaded on the 155’s though

 

I'd definitely be keen on a present day 155. They run very locally to me.

[Adam1701D]

Did Heljan not hint of a 4mm version of their rather nice looking 7mm 153 when it was launched? It would make perfect sense, as the development work has already been done.

[adb968008]

5 hours ago, TomScrut said:

 

I'd definitely be keen on a present day 155. They run very locally to me.

I’m surprised how theyve hung on, a fleet of 7.. whilst they are obviously pretty much same as a 153, Northerns got rid of their 153’s.. so they are an isolated fleet in Northern.

 

Not sure who would take them on, other than TFW, but if TFW needed them, they could have taken Northerns 153’s.

With 24 now reaching 2 years in storage and Northern tendering for 400 odd new vehicles, I doubt they will come back.

 

That said without Pacers,  these must be as cheap as it gets to run… a business entrepreneur might see 153’s as a way of making private / executive trains for the well healed.

Edited November 7, 2023 by adb968008

[TomScrut]

3 minutes ago, adb968008 said:

I’m surprised how theyve hung on, a fleet of 7.. whilst they are obviously pretty much same as a 153, Northerns got rid of their 153’s.. so they are an isolated fleet in Northern.

 

Not sure who would take them on, other than TFW, but if TFW needed them, they could have taken Northerns 153’s.

With 24 now reaching 2 years in storage and Northern tendering for 400 odd new vehicles, I doubt they will come back.

 

Why did they get rid of the 153s though? I thought it was accessibility regs so how are the 155s compliant if the 153 wasn't?

 

They run between Bridlington and York via Hull (unsure if they actually go on any other route nowadays), I am sure that when I went on one in 2021 they also had a 153 slapped on the end.

[adb968008]

6 hours ago, TomScrut said:

 

Why did they get rid of the 153s though? I thought it was accessibility regs so how are the 155s compliant if the 153 wasn't?

 

They run between Bridlington and York via Hull (unsure if they actually go on any other route nowadays), I am sure that when I went on one in 2021 they also had a 153 slapped on the end.

It was the toilet AIUI… a superloo in a 153, plus driving cabs meant half the unit was non passenger space.

tfw spent quite a bit on them..

https://news.tfw.wales/news/transport-for-wales-completes-class-153-refurbishment

 

I know for a while they were running them in pairs, with a superloo and a regular loo version coupled together… effectively making them a 155 again, with the small cabs coupled together..

 

153/9.. non complaint running with a 153/3.

Northern must have decided minimum 2 car is the way to go, binned the 153’s yet got Brodies to do a PRM job on the 155’s.. completed in June 2019…

 

https://brodie-engineering.co.uk/case-studies/overhaul-and-modification-to-class-155-units.html

i would have thought it easier for Northern to have dumped the 155’s instead of midlifing a fleet of 7.

what doesnt make sense was Northern only acquired several exGWR 153’s on 24th May 2018… inc 153373 seen here in Leeds…in Oct 2019

 

Which less than 1 year later, in 2020 was at Scotrail.. so they must have known when the 155’s were complete, and the GWR 153’s recieved, that they were already getting rid of them.

 

153373 went to Brodies 3rd August 2020 for PRM fiiting and upgrades.. that contract must have been agreed many months before hand, whilst it was with Northern, for that 2 years… 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 7, 2023 by adb968008

[frobisher]

1 hour ago, adb968008 said:

Northern must have decided minimum 2 car is the way to go, binned the 153’s yet got Brodies to do a PRM job on the 155’s..

 

https://brodie-engineering.co.uk/case-studies/overhaul-and-modification-to-class-155-units.html

i would have thought it easier for Northern to have dumped the 155’s instead of midlifing a fleet of 7.

 

The cost of modifying a 155 will be cheaper than 2 153's because you don't have the extra cabs to contend with.

[nickb4141]

Has anyone heard who the ‘mystery manufacturer’ is for a newly tooled 153 yet? 
(Charlie alluded to one being in work at the moment, but was tight lipped as to who it was!) 

 

….Would have bet it was Heljan, with the new 7mm version currently in work , but Charlie said it’s not them??

 

Accurascale? Rapido? 

[TrainsRule88]

On 03/01/2024 at 00:36, nickb4141 said:

Has anyone heard who the ‘mystery manufacturer’ is for a newly tooled 153 yet? 
(Charlie alluded to one being in work at the moment, but was tight lipped as to who it was!) 

 

….Would have bet it was Heljan, with the new 7mm version currently in work , but Charlie said it’s not them??

 

Accurascale? Rapido? 

My money is on Accurascale producing the 153 & 155 as they said in the past they have several units in development and they like focusing on detail and variations so this would fit well with them in my opinion. 

[NXEA!]

Bachmann would be a good shout for a 153, fits well with their 158 and current lean towards the modern scene.